Step by Step [TO1 ROMEYOU 1]

CHAPTER 12

     Chihoon snatched a look at the entrance of the cafeteria as he sat down at their usual table with Jaeyun.

»Jaeyun?« Chihoon asked while casually unwrapping pizza.

»Hm?« Jaeyun seemed too distracted by a few doodles on the table that looked like one-eyed creatures with five legs.

»Does Jeyou know Jerome's mother?« He asked, trying to let it seem like a normal question.

»Why should he? Unless they went there for practice, I don't think he would know her... Why?« Jaeyun answered with a smile as he looked at Chihoon stuffing his mouth with a single piece of pizza.

After a few seconds the other boys joined them for lunch as well. Even though Jeyou wasn't with his friends today, Jerome still had the habit to glance into their direction every few minutes.

»It wasn't him.« Jerome disclosed suddenly. His friends seemed puzzled at first, trying to understand what he was referring to.

»I am so sorry... Are you fine?« Jisu's face was filled with worry. Jerome nodded in response with a fond smile. No trace of sorrow visible.

»Surprisingly yes. I gave it up, it's fine now.« He replied, thinking of how he cried his soul out in the end. Chihoon showed a genuine smile, as if a long fight was finally won. The boys were voicing their proud in a lively chatter, already planning how they could celebrate it. Meantime, Jerome was thinking about Jeyou. He hadn't seen him after the incident at the amusement park. It felt strange and unfamiliar without him. A couple of days before, they were sitting together for lunch each time. Growing together through practice. Jerome remembered his feeling of success as he started getting along with Jeyou for the first time. They were friends, after all. But it didn't feel like it.

»Jerome?« Woonggi tapped his shoulder.

»Huh? Did you say anything?« He answered, in a rush. The feeling of embarrassment flooded his body. He didn't want the others to think he was in thoughts about his old friend.

»We said we need to go to the biology room to get our graded essays.« Woonggi repeated as they already started to leave their seats. Jerome automatically followed them, as if in a trance, not thinking about the fact that he was in a different biology class and therefore never turned in an essay. Walking through the long, white hallways of the second floor, they needed to take the staircase down. The science classrooms were all located near the office, probably due to the valuables and materials in the rooms.

Suddenly, Woonggi hit Jaeyun's shoulder and charged towards the staircase. »TAG YOU'RE IT.« He screamed on top of his lungs, not minding several classes still taking place. Jaeyun dropped his shoulders with a loud sigh while Chihoon, Jisu and Jerome started running away.

»WHY Y'ALL LOVE THIS GAME SO MUCH?« He screamed even louder for Woonggi to hear and chased after his friends. Solely sharp squeaking of shoe soles sounded through the noiseless hallway towards the first floor. Jaeyun raced after his friends, taking two steps down at once. In effect, he regretted walking next to the youngest, who always pulled some kind of game randomly. Arriving at the first floor, he saw the others already there, next to several students by the biology room. He walked towards them, breathing heavily.

»You loooost~ Sounds like you're buying us a meal« Woonggi teased as Jaeyun leaned on the wall with his chest rising up and down.

»So, you're not thankful I organized the picnic yesterday, you little-« The older jumped closer to Woonggi, strangling him with his arm until he started jiggling.

»Jerome, you'd need to wait here.« Jisu hardly voiced as he separated Jaeyun and Woonggi with his full strength. They turned around to follow the other students into the classroom, leaving Jerome in a now empty hallway. Silence crawled through the occupied classrooms, the bathrooms, long hallways and staircases. Until loud arguing emerged from the offices nearby. Jerome had his back leaned to a wall, separating the principal's office from the hallway. He tried to figure out what the fight was about, but couldn't make out any word. The voices became, the blonde boy realized now, louder each second and moved closer to the door. He slowly tried to distance himself from the door nearby, he didn't want anybody to notice him eavesdropping again. Suddenly, air moved violently against his face, caused by the door. He swiftly took a few steps back behind a corner, trying to look as natural, a student waiting for his friends can possibly look like. His eyes began shaking recognizing Jeyou's agitated voice echoing through the hallways.